Midlife Crisis has become a major problem for working people aged 40 and above. People in this age group will be shocked and often think that they are old and have little time left in life. This causes many symptoms such as feeling unhappy with life, anxiety, and feeling disappointed or not achieving what they intended.
Midlife is a time of serious battles with work life. No matter what our career is, we will have responsibilities, duties and age. Many people say that it is a time of building a life, which adds more pressure to us. The turmoil in the mind or the many calculations in the brain during midlife is not always about wanting to be a child again to escape suffering. Some people can turn the midlife crisis into an opportunity.
“They are struggling to cope with the fact that they have already lived half their lives.”
As age increases, midlife sufferers experience feelings of depression, guilt, anxiety, and stress. During a midlife crisis, they often reminisce about their childhood, which they can no longer regain, and they must confront the fact that their time is half-way through. However, midlife crises are not necessarily a bad thing. Studies have shown that many people in the world do not suffer from them at all.
“Most survey participants reported that their midlife crisis occurred before age 40 or after age 50.”
Some researchers believe that the idea of a midlife crisis is a social construct and a mass belief that we should experience some sort of crisis in our 40s, leading many to say they have experienced failure at that time. In fact, a national survey of midlife adults in the United States found that only 26% of participants had experienced a midlife crisis, raising questions about whether these crises many people experience are related to midlife, since midlife is typically considered to be around age 45.
“In fact, the midlife crisis may not be so different from the suffering that many people have experienced.”
Most people would think that midlife crisis is more about major events that we experience rather than age. Triggers can be life changes such as divorce, job loss, getting fired, betrayal, or the loss of a loved one, or moving. In addition, midlife crisis is not a formal diagnosis, but rather a concept that researchers have studied. Most research has focused on similar answers, such as whether midlife crisis is about fear of death or a desire to be a child again. However, the truth is that the emotions of those who think they are experiencing midlife crisis are not so different from those that many people experience during other life crises.
Emotional crisis, which is evident in a clear and sudden change in behavior, and this is an example of a behavioral change.
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- There is a change in sleeping habits, such as insomnia or sleeping all the time.
- Weight loss or gain
- Other noticeable mood changes include increased anger, irritability, sadness, or anxiety.
- Quitting your job or ending your relationship
Causes of midlife crisis
For many people, midlife is a time of changing relationships and roles. Some may begin caring for elderly parents, others may feel empty, or they may feel as though their teenage years ended too soon.
“For some, middle age can be a time of regret.”
The changes that push us into old age become more apparent than ever during this time. Some people experience illnesses and others begin to notice a decline in their physical abilities. Midlife can be a time of great reflection. They may look back on their years and question what their life would have been like if they had chosen a different path. Some may regret not having chosen a different career path or not having created the life they once dreamed of. Of course, among those who regret the path they took in the past, some choose to start striving for bigger goals in the second half of their lives instead.
“Because happiness is U-shaped”
Several studies have shown that our happiness follows a U-shaped graph. Our all-time highs in happiness begin to decline in our late teens and continue to decline until we reach our 40s. It then stabilizes until we start to increase again in our 50s. Data from more than half a million Americans and Europeans found this to be true. One of them, in his 60s, said he had never been happier. And by the time he was 40, he felt like he had hit an all-time low. While this U-shaped graph isn’t universal, it is very common in high-income countries. This gradual decline in happiness explains why some people seem to be experiencing a midlife crisis.
“Midlife crisis and depression”
Suicide rates are highest in midlife, especially among white men between the ages of 45 and 54. Some people may experience depression in midlife, and this is referred to as a midlife crisis. Women between the ages of 40 and 59 in the United States have the highest rates of depression. It is still unclear whether midlife crises actually cause depression or whether the depression people experience in midlife can be called a midlife crisis.
“Midlife crisis and dementia”
People with early-stage dementia may have trouble planning, organizing, or thinking ahead. They may easily become stressed or confused. Some people also mistake health problems for midlife crises. Behavioral changes or personality changes are not always midlife crises. They can also be signs of dementia. We often think that Alzheimer’s and dementia only affect older adults. However, a study found that 5% of people with Alzheimer’s had the disease before the age of 65.
“A positive midlife crisis”
A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Development found that one of the benefits of midlife crises is curiosity. People going through midlife crises are more curious about themselves and the world around them. They are more open and receptive to new ideas that they can apply and understand more deeply. That curiosity may push them to pursue new advancements or opportunities, paving the way through the crisis to find opportunity.
“When should you ask for help?”
The turmoil of midlife can bring about positive changes that don’t require professional help. We may decide to start doing things so that we feel like our life has more meaning. But if we find ourselves experiencing a midlife crisis that is disrupting our ability to function or function, we should start seeking help from a doctor or other professional immediately. Here are some signs that it’s time to talk to your doctor or contact a mental health professional.
- Our emotional distress impairs our ability to sleep or affects our appetite.
- We can’t concentrate on our work or have to call in sick because of our distress.
- Stress or emotions are affecting your relationship, such as increased arguments with your partner or siblings.
- We lose interest in leisure activities and hobbies.
- If we are considering making major life-changing decisions, such as ending a long-term relationship, changing careers, or moving, and we feel the urge to do so because of the emotional turmoil associated with midlife, we should pause and talk to a doctor or other professional before we make the wrong life decisions based on our emotions.
Conclusion
If you are entering middle age, are in middle age, or are about to leave middle age, let me tell you that this is not an article that will make us worry about the midlife crisis. Because as I said, there are still many people in this world who have not encountered or experienced midlife at all. Many people have moved forward, and midlife is the time when they bloom the most. So don’t live in fear that it will happen. We just live our lives as we want. Observe ourselves often. And if there is an abnormality in our mood or mind, we should find an opportunity to talk to a doctor or specialist immediately.
If you’re not the one experiencing a midlife crisis, but you know a friend or family member is, there are things you can do to help them. For example:
- Be a good listener. Listen to them without judging.
- Show them that we care about them.
- Tell them the importance of getting help. Encourage them that seeing a doctor or specialist is an important thing to do.
- If they refuse to help, let’s look for help ourselves and try to find a plan or a way to help them without them resisting.
- Seek immediate help if someone is suicidal. No loss should be lost. If someone threatens to harm themselves or others, intervene immediately. If necessary, take them to a hospital for immediate evaluation and treatment.
References:
What Are the Signs of a Midlife Crisis? Midlife can be the unhappiest time in a person’s life
